It's 1903 in Missouri, and the World's Fair is right around the corner. The beautiful young Smith daughters - Rose, Esther, Agnes and Tootie - all have relationships in various stages of development. But when their father Alonzo accepts a job in New York, all their plans are thrown into jeopardy. With everything suddenly up in the air, the girls and their beaus are thrown for a loop. After an elegant Christmas Eve ball leads to tears, Alonzo realizes that the move would devastate his family and calls the whole thing off....